American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. In today’s edition, Robert Pannier previews the Championship Series in the American Association as the Kane County Cougars take on the Winnipeg Goldeyes for the Miles Wolff Cup.

Cougars, Goldeyes Battle for the Cup

On Saturday, the Kane County Cougars and Winnipeg Goldeyes will begin the final stage of the quest for the Miles Wolff Cup, as they begin the best-of-five series. This is a series that pits the top team in the West Division against the second-place team in the East Division. However, the Cougars have been a juggernaut in the playoffs, winning all four of their games while Winnipeg has gone 4-2 through the first two rounds.

Tale of the Tape:

League ranking listed in parentheses.

Kane County Cougars

Record:  55-45 (T-4)
Home Record: 27-23 (6)
Away Record: 28-22 (T-3)
Last 10 Games: 5-5

Hitting
Batting Average: .277 (4)
On-Base Percentage: .366 (T-3)
Slugging Percentage: .428 (3)
Home Runs: 98 (6)
Runs Scored: 582 (2)
Stolen Bases: 127 (6)
Strikeouts: 858 (11)

Pitching
ERA: 4.59 (2)
Opponent Batting Average: .272 (11)
Saves: 25 (T-3)
Strikeouts: 748 (7)
Opponent Slugging Percentage: .402 (T-5)
Opponent WHIP: 1.48 (5)
Opponent Home Runs Allowed: 79 (2)

Fielding
Fielding Percentage: .977 (T-10)
Errors allowed: 85 (10)

Winnipeg Goldeyes

Record: 56-43 (2)
Home Record: 28-11 (4)
Away Record: 28-22 (T-3)
Last 10 Games: 7-3

Hitting
Batting Average: .278 (3)
On-Base Percentage: .358 (5)
Slugging Percentage: .395 (8)
Home Runs: 62 (12)
Runs Scored: 534 (5)
Stolen Bases: 126 (7)
Strikeouts: 621 (1)

Pitching
ERA: 3.71 (1)
Opponent Batting Average: .243 (1)
Saves: 22 (6)
Strikeouts: 785 (5)
Opponent Slugging Percentage: .369 (1)
Opponent WHIP: 1.20 (1)
Opponent Home Runs Allowed: 83 (4)

Fielding
Fielding Percentage: .982 (3)
Errors allowed: 62 (3)

Head-to-Head in 2024

Winning team in parenthesis with the final score.

June 3 – Kane County at Winnipeg (Goldeyes, 7-2)
June 4 – Kane County at Winnipeg (Cougars, 1-0)
June 5 – Kane County at Winnipeg (Goldeyes, 4-3)
June 10 – Winnipeg at Kane County (Goldeyes, 3-1)
June 11 – Winnipeg at Kane County (Goldeyes, 12-6)
June 12 – Winnipeg at Kane County (Cougars, 5-2)

Miles Wolff Cup Schedule

September 14 – Winnipeg at Kane County
September 15 – Winnipeg at Kane County
September 17 – Kane County vs. Winnipeg
September 18 – Kane County vs. Winnipeg *
September 19 – Kane County vs. Winnipeg *

* – if needed

Position Matchup

(Cougars Players Listed First)

Catcher: Hayden Dunhurst, Simon Reid vs. Rob Emery

The two catchers have split time through the first four games for the Cougars. Dunhurst got the nod in both starts for Greg Mahle while Reid was behind the plate for both of Spencer Stockton’s starts. That will likely continue in this round as well, but Reid played in 13 more games during the regular season and will likely start in the other contests of this series. The catcher hit .280 with 33 runs scored and 29 RBI while Dunhurst added marginal offensive support (.174, 19 R, 13 RBI). Reid led Kane County in batting average against Winnipeg this season, hitting .286 in four games.

Rob Emery was the best catcher in the West Division and may have been the best catcher in the American Association the season. Emery hit .293 with 54 run scored, 11 homers, and led the Goldeyes was 70 RBI in 83 games. He is only hitting .238 through the first six playoff games, but still boasts a .360 on-base percentage. Emery hit .333 in four games behind the plate against Kane County this season.

Advantage: Winnipeg Goldeyes

First Base: Alex McGarry vs. Roby Enriquez

McGarry has taken over the first base role, but he is not producing traditional numbers for a first baseman (.257, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 36 G). In the playoffs he is just 3-15, but plays solid defense.

Roby Enriquez had a solid season (.296, 47 R, three HR, 42 RBI, 70 G), but has struggled through the playoffs, hitting just .238 with three runs scored and two RBI. His bat will be critical in this series.

Advantage: Even

Second Base: Josh Allen vs. Dayson Croes

Josh Allen is having arguably his best season of his storied career, hitting .306 with 70 runs scored, a team-leading 15 home runs, and 55 RBI in 85 games. He has continued to hit in the postseason, hitting .333 with a homer and four RBI. Allen brings a lot more to the table than just his production at the plate, as he is an excellent defensive second baseman and one of the key leaders of this club. Allen holds an American Association title, winning the Miles Wolff Cup with the St. Paul Saints in 2019.

Dayson Croes will be at second base as long as Ramon Bramasco is able to go. Croes may be the best pure hitter in the American Association, hitting .342 with 54 runs scored and 51 RBI in 93 games. He has continued to produce in the postseason, hitting .409 with three runs scored and four RBI in six games. Croes could bet anywhere in this lineup and be successful, but look for him in the leadoff role for this series. If Bramasco does not play third, Croes moves to that position. Croes hit .308 in the six games against Kane County.

Advantage: Even

Third Base: Claudio Finol vs. Ramon Bramasco

Claudio Finol has been the model of consistency this season, hitting .309 with 58 runs scored, 11 homers, and 56 RBI. He has carried that hot bat into the playoffs, hitting .308 while leading the club with two homers. Finol has struggled a little at third this season, making 17 errors, and that will be something to watch as this series continues.

Bramasco is one of several players on this team that can play multiple positions, and it will not be surprising to see him move around throughout the series, as Manager Logan Watkins likes to keep everyone in the action. Bramasco had a solid season, hitting .286 with 58 runs scored and 38 RBI in 77 games. He hit .400 through the first five games of the playoffs, but was injured in Game 2 against Fargo-Moorhead, and his status is uncertain. Should he be out, this gives a huge edge to the Cougars. Bramasco had his way against Kane County this season, hitting .455 (5-11).

Advantage: Kane County Cougars

Shortstop: Galli Cribs, Jr. vs. Andy Armstrong

This is a matchup of two of the best offensive shortstops in the American Association. Cribbs hit just .187 during the regular season but made only nine errors and has incredible range. The infielder’s bat has heated up in the postseason, as Cribbs is hitting .273 through the first two rounds.

Armstrong has incredible range, and put together a solid season, hitting .241 with 41 runs scored and 39 RBI in 81 games. How much action he will see will depend upon the status of Bramasco as well as if Watkins decides to go with the more offensive laden lineup. Armstrong has two hits through his first 11 postseason at bats.

Advantage: Even

Outfield: Trendon Craig, Armond Upshaw, Cornelius Randolph vs. Miles Simington, Max Murphy, Evan Alexander

This trio is the strength of the Kane County line. Randolph led the team in batting average (.342, 62 R, 11 HR, 58 RBI), Craig was second (.321, 60 R, 8 HR, 41 RBI), and Upshaw also contributed solid numbers (.280, 54 R, 9 HR, 39 RBI), so there is plenty of pop in this group. However, that has not been the case so far in the playoffs, as Craig is the only one having a solid stretch (.278) while Upshaw (.222) and Randolph (.154) are struggling to get their swing going. The extra days of rest may not help this group. Craig really struggled against Winnipeg this season, going 1-8 in his two games.

Murphy is not putting up his traditional numbers (.289, 72 R, 17 HR, 73 RBI), but he is still one of the most dangerous hitters in the league. Murphy was very good against Kane County this season, hitting .360 in six games. Simington has established himself as one of the best all-around players (.329, 81 R, 7 HR, 65 RBI, 28 SB), and is an exceptional centerfielder as well. Alexander joined the Goldeyes after being released by the RedHawks and still has not got his swing going (.250), but he is unbelievably dangerous and is 4-11 through the first three games of the postseason.

Advantage: Kane County Cougars

Designated Hitter: Todd Lott vs. Edwin Arroyo

Lott did not find his power stroke this season (8 HR), but still led the team in RBI (67) while posting a solid .298 batting average. He is 3-15 in the postseason, but has scored three times and has two doubles.

Arroyo will see some time at second base, but has been used primarily in the DH role in the postseason. That role is suiting him fine, as he is 10-21 (.476) through the first six games of the playoffs. That includes two dramatic three run homers in back-to-back games against the Sioux Falls Canaries, helping this team advance. Arroyo leads all playoff performers with eight RBI.

Advantage: Winnipeg Goldeyes

Bench: Harrison Smith, Cameron Cannon vs. Kevin Garcia, Keshawn Lynch, Jake McMurray, Nick Anderson

Smith had a solid regular season (.256, 4 HR, 35 RBI), and has not had much of a role in the postseason, appearing in just one game. However, he scored the winning run to close out the sweep of the Chicago Dogs in the bottom of the ninth on Wednesday. He has speed, which could be a factor in the series. Cannon has not appeared in the playoffs, and appeared in just four games to close out the season.

Winnipeg will have the deeper bench in this series, and that fits the style that Watkins likes to play. McMurray had an impressive season against Kane County the season (.389, 4 R, 3 RBI), and hit .274 in 81 total games with 45 runs scored and 32 RBI. He also walked 41 times, helping him boast an impressive .363 on-base percentage. Injuries may necessitate Lynch playing more (.203, 69 G). Anderson was acquired from Lincoln midway through the season, but hit just .218 in a Goldeyes uniform. Garcia (.188) has not appeared in the postseason.

Advantage: Winnipeg Goldeyes

Starting Pitching: Greg Mahle, Spencer Stockton, Jack Fox, Tommy Sommer vs. Joey Matulovich, Mitchell Lambson, Landen Bourassa, Zach Reininger, Travis Seabrooke

This is one of the more interesting matchups of the series. In terms of depth, Winnipeg has a clear edge. However, both Mahle and Stockton have been fantastic in the postseason, going a combined 3-0 while allowing just three earned runs in 23.0 total innings pitched. Mahle will go in Game 1, and we will wait to see whether Stockton will go in Game 2 on short rest or if Tsamis waits until Game 3. Should he opt to wait until the club heads to Winnipeg, it will be the first road start for the starter in this postseason. Fox (9-4, 5.27) and Sommer (3-4, 3.92) have yet to appear in the postseason, so they may be a little rusty.

The starting staff is the foundation upon which the Goldeyes are built. Joey Matulovich (11-3, 2.11) was the league’s top pitcher, but he has been ordinary in the postseason, going 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA. Seabrooke has moved to the bullpen through the first two rounds and Bourassa and Reininger each got a Game 2 start through the first two rounds. The stud for this group has been Lambson, who dominated Game 3 against the RedHawks and is 2-0 with a 3.08 ERA in the postseason.

Advantage: Slight Edge Winnipeg Goldeyes

Bullpen: Tyler Beardsley, Michael Brewer, C.J. Carter, Jake Gozzo, Quinn Gudaitis, Jordan Martinson, Logan Nissen, Vin Timpanelli vs. Colton Eastman, Ben Onyshko, Thomas Ponticello, Joey Steele, Tasker Strobel, Nick Trogrlic-Iverson, Ryder Yakel

The Cougars bullpen was very good in the regular season, but they have stepped up their game in the playoffs, allowing just one earned run in 13.0 innings pitched. It has been a masterful job by Tsamis to put these relievers in the best possible position to record outs, and they enter well rested, as no pitcher has tossed more than 4.0 innings pitched.

Winnipeg has a good bullpen as well, and they were instrumental in this team advancing to the championship series. However, Yakel struggled in his two appearances, and Steele and Seabrooke have done an acceptable but not spectacular job. Onyshko and Iverson have looked dominate at times, but each of them has been scored upon in the postseason and both have appeared in four games already.

Advantage: Kane County Cougars

Manager: George Tsamis vs. Logan Watkins

Tsamis is one of the greatest managers in Partner League Baseball history, winning over 1300 games and has five championships under his belt. The way he has handled his pitching staff and built this team is another example of why Tsamis has been so successful wherever he has gone.

Nothing can be taken away from the job that Watkins has done. He is the Manager of the Year, coming to Winnipeg after being let go in Cleburne and proving to be one of the best managers in the league. He has figured out a way to keep his team winning, and already has two Game 3 victories under his belt. That is pretty impressive. However, his success with that pitching staff is going to be put to the test, as each of these games should be close ones.

Advantage: Slight Edge Kane County Cougars

Who Wins?

Four of the last five Championship Series have not lived up to the hype. Only 2022 (Milwaukee Milkmen and Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks) was a great series, but this promises to be one for the ages. These are two evenly matched teams, with Winnipeg ranked third in team batting average and Kane County fourth, and the Cougars are second in runs scored (582) while the Goldeyes are fifth (534). These were the top two pitching staffs in the league this season, and both teams have exceptional arms in the rotation and in the bullpen.

The one area where Winnipeg is significantly better is in fielding, as they made 23 fewer errors than Kane County this season. That would seem to give them a sizable advantage.

In a short series, mistakes are what can cost the team, and a costly error could be the difference in this series as well. Plus, one has to like that Winnipeg was first in opponent batting average (.243) and opponent slugging percentage (.369). The question will be whether they can produce enough offense against this Kane County pitching staff.

While the Kane County pitching staff has been exceptional through the first two rounds, their group has seen limited action, and two of their starters have not pitched since before Labor Day. A rusty arm is the last thing that you need at this time of the year, and the Cougars are going to have two of them.

Take Winnipeg to win in five.

By Robert Pannier